Warning signal for vehicles



1951 K. E. LYMAN 2,564,984

WARNING SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES Filed Jan. 21, 1948 Patented Aug. 21, 1951 WARNING SIGNAL FOR VEHICLES Kenneth E. Lyman, Lake Forest, 111., assignor to Tucker Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application January 21, 1948, Serial No. 3,401

This invention relates to warning signals for vehicles and more particularly to audible air' operated signals for automobiles.

It is one of the objects of the invention to provide an air operated warning signal which can be given any desired tonal quality and pitch.

Another object is to provide a warning signal which can produce a plurality of successive signals of different tonal quality and/ or pitch. According to one feature of the invention the construction is so arranged that each signal cycle starts with the same tone and follows the same succession of tones.

' A further object is to provide a warning signal operated by air in which the volume of the signal is varied in response to the vehicle velocity without substantially altering the quality. or pitch of the signal. In the preferred construction air to operate the signal is supplied by a blower, and an air scoop is connected to the blower inlet to vary the inlet pressure and consequently the pressure supplied to the signal device in response to vehicle velocity.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a partial plan view of an automobile illustrating the location of the signal device thereon; and

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view with parts in section of the signal device embodying the invention.

As shown in Figure 2, the signal is generated by periodically interrupting a stream of air to produce pulsations therein at an audible frequency.

As shown, air is supplied to a pair of nozzles I and II which extend into a hollow cylindrical member I2 formed in its periphery with sets of openings I3 and I 4 which register respectively with the nozzles. As shown, the openings l3 and I4 may be spaced different distances to produce tone signals of different fundamental pitch as will be understood.

According to one feature of the invention, the quality of tone produced. can be controlled to provide the desired harmonics or overtones to give a pleasing sound. For this purpose supplemental series of openings I 5 may be formed adjacent the series of openings I3 and may be of smaller size and different spacing than the openings I3. Supplemental series of openings I6 and I! are formed adjacent the openings I4 and are of difierent size and spacing than the openings I 4 9 Claims. (Cl. 1777) to produce harmonics or overtones. -By properly selecting the size and spacing of the supplemental openings substantially any desired tone quality can be produced. A horn I 8 is preferably mounted adjacent the cylindrical member I2 in register with the nozzles to direct the signal, as desired.

Air is supplied to the nozzles by a blower I9 having an outlet conduit 2| connected centrally to a transfer valve 22. The nozzles I0 and II are connected respectively to the opposite ends of the transfer valve, and the valve contains a shiftable spool 23 which can be shifted to connect the conduit 2| alternately to the nozzles I0 and II. In this way the nozzles are made successively effective to produce two different tones in sequence.

According to one feature of the invention, the strength of the signal is varied automatically in response to the vehicle speed so that thesignal will be louder at high speeds.v For this purpose an air scoop 24 is connected to the inlet of the blower l9 and is arranged to face in the direction of vehicle travel. When the vehicle is traveling at low speed the scoop will develop a relatively low inlet pressure so that outlet pressure of the blower will be relatively low and the signal will be weak. At higher speeds, however, the scoop 24 develops a relatively high inlet pressure for the blower so that its outlet pressure is correspondingly higher to increase the signal strength. In this way the signal strength is automatically controlled with a minimum number of parts.

The blower and the cylindrical member I2 are both driven by an electric motor 25 which is connected to a battery 26 through a manual switch 21. The manual switch may be the usual horn button or horn ring on the steering wheel of the vehicle, and when it is closed to energize the motor, the blower will be driven and the member l2 will rotate to produce a signal.

Rotation of the member I2 is utilized to operate the valve spool 23 so that the two tones of the signal will be produced in sequence. For this purpose a cam 28 is provided which carries a ratchet wheel 29. A sliding pawl 3| engages the ratchet wheel to turn it and the cam as the member I2 turns. The pawl is operated once for each revolution of the member I2 by means of a cam projection 32 at one edge of the member I2 which engages the pawl and moves it upward each time the member I2 rotates. By selecting a ratchet 29 having the desired number of teeth the cam can be given one complete rotation for ing circuit in parallel with the manual switch 21. In operation the parts normallyoccupy. the.

position shown in which the holding circuit is open and the valve spindle 23 is: shifted to the When the switch 21 is: closedto start right. a signal cycle, the motor will drive the blower and the member [2 to force air: through the nozzle Ill. The air stream will be periodically interrupted by the openings I3 and Hi to produce:

a signal of the desired pitch and tone quality. As. the member 12 turns, it will turn the cam and the disc 33' through the ratchet 3| ina counterclockwise direction. After the cam has turnedapproXima-tely 180 the lower part-thereof will bepresentedtothevalve spool 23 so that it can shift to the left to connect the: conduit 2! to the nozzle ll. At this time the nozzle II will beeffective to produce its signal and the nozzle l will;be ineffective; After the cam has turned through one complete revolution, the follower 35'. will. drop into the notch 34 to interrupt the holding circuit sothat if the-manual switch 21 has; been opened-the parts. will stop in the position:shownready foranother cycle;

The signal is mounted. on a vehicle as illustrated in Figure l in which a car body is partially shown at 38.; In its forward. end the body is formed: with. agrill 39 through which air can flow freely during normal'forward travel. The signal device and the air scoopare preferably mounted closely adjacent to the grill so that air fiowtherethrough will be-picked upby the air scoopbut the horn [6 maybe shielded so that it willnot be-exposedto air flow. In this way the strength ofv the-signal will. be varied automatically in response to.the. velocity of thevehicle, as explainedabove.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described. in. detail herein, it

will be understood that this is illustrative only and is not to be, taken as a definitionof the scope of the invention, reference, being had. for. this purpose to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1,. A warning signal for vehicles. comprising a continuously movable member movable in a predetermined path having. a series. of openings therein, an air nozzle toward the path of movement adjacent, the member in register with. the series of openings and directed toward the member, a motor, to movethe member, and an air pump driven by the motor and connectedto the nozzle to-s-upply air thereto.

2'. A; warning signal movable in a predetermined pathv for vehicles comprising a continuously movable-member having a plurality of series of spaced openings therein, the openings in' eachseries lying'inaline parallel to said path, a-. nozzle adjacentto the line of each series of openings and directed toward the openings, a valve-shiftable fromoneposition tOzEtIlOthSll and connected to the nozzles toconnect the nozzles selectivelyto a source, of pressure, and; means responsive to movement of the member: to move the valv 3. A warning signal for vehicles comprising a continuously movable member having a plurality of series of spaced openings therein, a nozzle adjacent each series of openings, a valve movable to connect the nozzles selectively to a source of pressure, a cam to move the valve, means operated. by movement of the member to move the cam, amotor-to move the member, a manualswitch to initiate operation of the motor, and a holding switch operated by movement of the cam to maintain the motor in operation until thecainreaches a predetermined position.

4. A" warning signal for vehicles comprising rotatable member formed with a plurality of series of spaced openings, a motor to rotate the memben-a nozzle adjacent each series of openings, avalve movable to connect the nozzles seloctively to a source of pressure, a rotatable cam, aiollower engaging the cam and connected to the valve to move the valve, a ratchet connected to the cam, and a pawl actuated by rotationof the member and engaging the ratchet to turnzthe cam and ratchet.

5. A warning signal for vehicles comprising a rotatable member formed with a plurality of series ofspaced openings, a nozzle adjacent each seriesof openings, a valve movable toocnnect the nozzles selectivel to a source of pressure, a rotatable cam to .move the valve, a ratchet onthe cam, apawl actuated by rotation of the. member to turn the cam and ratchet, a motor to.rotate the member, manually operable. switch to initiate operation of the motor, and a holdin switch operated by movement of" the cam. to maintain the motor in operation until the cam reaches a predetermined position.-

A warning signal for vehicles comprising arotatable member formed with, a plurality of series of spaced openings, a nozzle adjacent each series of, openings, a valve movable to connect the nozzles selectively to a source of pressure, a rotatable can to move the valve, a ratchet on the cam, a pawl actuated by rotation of the member to. turn the cam and ratchet, a blower connected to rotate with themember and formingv a source. of pi essure for the nozzles, and means responsive to the velocity of the vehicle to vary the pressure supplied by the blower to the nozzles.

'7. A warning signal for vehicles comprising a rotatable member formed with a plurality of seriesof spacedopenings, a nozzle adjacent each series of openings, a valve movable to connect the nozzles selectively to a source of pressure, a rotatable cam to move the valve, a ratchet on the cam, pawl actuated by rotationoi the member to turn the cam and ratchet, a blower connected to rotate with the member and forming a source of pressure for the nozzles, a motor to rotatethe memberand the blower, and an air scoop connected to the blower inlet to vary the blower pressure in response to velocity of the vehicle.-

8; A warning signal for vehicles comprising a rotatable member formed with a plurality of series-ofspaced openings, anozzle adjacent each series of openings, a valve movable to connect the nozzles'selectively to a source of pressure, a rotatable-cam to move the valve, a ratchet on the cam, a pawl actuated by rotation of the memher; to turn the cam andratchet, a motor to rotate the member, a manually operable switch to initiate operation of the motor, a holding switch operated by movement of the cam to maintain. the motor. in operation until the cam reaches a predetermined position, a blower driven by the motor and forming a source of pressure for the nozzles, and means responsive to the velocity of the vehicle to vary the pressure supplied by the blower to the nozzles.

9. A warning signal for vehicles comprising a movable relatively thin-walled member formed with a series of relatively large spaced openings to produce a fundamental tone and with an adjacent series of smaller differently spaced openings to produce harmonics of the fundamental tone, means to move the member, a nozzle adjacent to the member registering with both series of openings to cause a flow of air through the openings and means to supply air under pressure to the nozzle.

KENNETH E. LYMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,520,225 Cosgrave et a1. Dec. 23, 1924 1,761,162 Volf, Jr. June 3, 1930 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,564,984 August 21, 1951 KENNETH E. LYMAN It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 3, lines .64 and 65, strike out movable in a predetermined path and insert the same in line 66, same column, after member;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, so that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of February, A. D. 1952.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

